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Jump in, the water's fine

Stafford Primary Polar Plunge team takes to the Columbia River late February

Come February and Oregon has reached the height of winter. Rivers, lakes and oceans cease to hold seasonal swimmers, except for the occasional daredevil in a wetsuit. It would be crazy to think that hundreds of people would plunge into the river. But they do.

Stafford Primary's Polar Plunge team — the Stafford Snow Leopards — is one of many teams participating in the 2018 Polar Plunge in an effort to fundraise for Oregon Special Olympics.

On Saturday, Feb. 24, at Broughton Beach on 43rd and Marine Drive in Portland, teams will check in starting at 8:30 a.m. to participate in a 5K fun run and then plunge into an icy Columbia River.

"I went to a workshop the year before last and this was one of the options of things to do in the community — sponsored by Special Olympics — and I just latched onto it," said Kasie Hansen, Stafford's learning specialist.

Hansen created a Polar Plunge team at Inza R. Wood Middle School two years ago and when she came to Stafford last year, she decided to do the same.

"I don't have any special connection but I just love it. It's a great cause," Hansen said.

"We also had the director of special ed services, Jennifer Spencer-Iiams, (who) has been a member of our team and she'll be on our team this year as well. One year we had the school superintendent; we are going to invite her to join our team this year as well."

Last year, Stafford received an award for raising the most money out of teams in the greater Portland area. It was one of the only primary schools that came close to raising $5,000. And the teams aren't just K-12 schools, they're community groups like police and fire departments.

Snow Leopard team member Lucas Thomsen, 11, participated last year and is returning this year.

"I thought it would be fun to join it and help raise for the Special Olympics so other kids with disabilities could do the Special Olympics," said Thomsen, adding that his favorite part was advocating for the cause since he was on vacation during the actual event last year.

"I'm excited for doing the plunge and doing the 5K because I thought it would be a fun thing to do after we raise the money; I thought it was a great program."

Hansen encourages not just students, but staff and community members to join their team. She added that people can join up until the day of the event.

Special Olympics Oregon requires $50 to plunge and $25 for the 5K, but Hansen plans on raising enough money to cover students who aren't able to raise enough to pay for the event.